Andy Milone’s Favorite Cedar Valley Stories of 2024
By Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa (TNS)
Each December, Courier reporters look back at their favorite stories of the past year. We ask them to pick their favorites: not necessarily the biggest stories of the year, just the ones they found most interesting.
Here are some of Andy Milone’s favorite Cedar Valley stories of 2024. Some are heart-warming. Some are amusing. Some are wistful. We hope you find all of the articles collected here to be interesting.
A Taco Bell superfan
Blake Hundley of Cedar Falls founded a website focused on the fast-food giant Taco Bell, and was honored in 2024 for his dedication to the brand. Hundley is a hard-core fan who held his high school graduation party at Taco Bell.
Taco Bell – 1
Blake Hundley eats a Cheesy Gordita Crunch next to the Taco Bell Superfan of the Year Award at the eatery on University Avenue in Cedar Falls.
While looking for friends in a new area, Hundley, 26, found them online – Taco Bell lovers like himself. He created “Living Más” in 2017, a first-of-its-kind web site at www.livingmas.com. “Taco Bell Blake” is a friend to patrons around the world.
For his efforts, Taco Bell awarded its inaugural “Taco Bell Superfan of the Year” trophy to his creation Feb. 9 in Las Vegas. He accepted the prize from NFL football star Davante Adams on the community’s behalf at the company’s Live Más event.
Taco Bell – 4
Living Más founder Blake Hundley, left, holds up the Taco Bell Superfan of the Year Award given to his online community and resource at a Feb. 9 event called Live Más in Las Vegas. He accepted the award from social media personality Davis Burleston and pro football superstar Davante Adams.
CFU names new general manager
Cedar Falls Utilities chose a female general manager, the first woman to lead the organization, after an extensive search that drew 68 applicants.
Susan Abernathy
Abernathy
Susan Abernathy’s promotion was announced during the municipal utility’s quarterly meeting in February.
“It’s a big honor. It’s very humbling and a big responsibility, and I’ve pledged to the employees that I’m going to do my best and always be there for them,” Abernathy said.
A 1990 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa who grew up in Northeast Iowa, she replaced Steve Bernard, who retired at the age of 62 after a 36-year career in the utility business – 28 of those with CFU. He’d been in charge since 2018.
The 1987 graduate of Charles City High School has worked at CFU and had been its general counsel and head of human resources since March 2013.
Godfather’s Pizza – 1
Mick Timmerman handles an all-meat combo pizza on the conveyor oven at Godfather’s Pizza.
Godfather’s Pizza closes in Cedar Falls
Godfather’s Pizza, 1621 W. First St. in Cedar Falls, closed its doors for the last time Feb. 23.
Michael “Mick” Timmerman, 62, said he hadn’t had seven days off in a row since he became owner in 2001.
“The longest I’ve had is five days. I’m pretty hands-on, and that’s why I only have the one restaurant,” he said.
Timmerman’s restaurant experience dated back to when he was 15 years old at Ott’s Drive-In in Fayette, where he grew up, and later as a manager at Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream in Oelwein.
He’d been working at the Cedar Falls pizzeria since becoming a manager there in the winter of 1984. The restaurant had been a Cedar Falls staple on First Street since about 1977.
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